Premium
The molecular background of aggressive B cell lymphomas as a basis for targeted therapy
Author(s) -
de Jong Daphne,
Balagué Ponz Olga
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.2807
Subject(s) - lymphoma , context (archaeology) , cancer research , aggressive lymphoma , biology , gene expression profiling , diffuse large b cell lymphoma , computational biology , gene , medicine , immunology , bioinformatics , genetics , gene expression , rituximab , paleontology
In contrast to classifications for the majority of solid tumours, non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas have been defined on the basis of their genetic alterations for many years, providing a biologically highly relevant classification. However, for aggressive B cell lymphomas, which unfortunately is the most prevalent group of lymphomas in adults, the stratification is less optimal. Gene expression profiling, analyses of chromosomal alterations and functional assays have been instrumental in dissecting these tumours to support the distinction of essentially different diseases, such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma and Burkitt's lymphoma, and now start to identify the dominant driving oncogenetic pathways that may serve as rational therapeutic targets in this essentially heterogeneous group. In this review, the molecular background and the consequences of the molecular alterations in the context of the consequences for treatment in aggressive B cell lymphoma are discussed. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.